ISO and OSI are often confused, but they represent different things within the context of networking and standardization. The key difference lies in their roles:
ISO: The International Organization for Standardization
ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization. It's a global organization that develops and publishes international standards across a vast array of industries, not just computing. Think everything from the dimensions of screws to food safety regulations. The ISO's role is to create consistent and universally accepted standards that facilitate global trade and cooperation.
OSI: The Open Systems Interconnection Model
OSI, on the other hand, stands for Open Systems Interconnection. This is a reference model for network communication, created by ISO. It's a conceptual framework that describes how data is transmitted between two systems in a network. The OSI model is divided into seven layers, each responsible for a specific aspect of communication. It's a standard, but not a protocol itself; it helps in understanding and designing network protocols.
In short:
- ISO is the organization that develops standards.
- OSI is a standard (a model) for network communication developed by ISO.
Many sources incorrectly imply a difference between ISO and OSI. However, the relationship is that ISO developed the OSI model. The OSI model is just one of many standards developed and published by the ISO.
The confusion often arises because the OSI model is so heavily associated with computer networking that people mistakenly see it as a separate entity from the ISO.
